Michael Maida

Recent Posts

The NCAA Men's Basketball Division I Tournament (a.k.a. March Madness) is reaching a significant milestone this year. The 2013 edition is the 75th anniversary of the tournament of all tournaments! This Sunday, March 17th, the selections will be made, brackets will be set, and our attention will shift from the NBA & baseball Spring Training to the the buzzer-beating shots and Cinderella stories that happen every March. Two of the rounds will be played right here in San Jose, at HP Pavilion. Whether you are going to watch in person or are just a casual fan, San Pedro Square Market is the best place to catch the tournament action!

The San Pedro Square Market will be launching its second annual "Market Madness" bracket. The winner of this pool will receive a $100 gift certificate to the Market Bar. The link above will take you into our yahoo sports bracket manager where you can sign up using your Yahoo, Google, or Facebook account. After you have clicked on the link follow these steps:

1. Enter the group password - marchmadness

2. If needed, our group ID is 19612

The HP Pavilion will also be hosting the second round of the tournament Thursday March 21st and Saturday March 23. Here is how the viewing schedule breaks down:

MAR17

Selection SundayMarch 17

MAR19

First FourMarch 19 & 20

MAR21

Second RoundMarch 21 & 22

MAR23

Third RoundMarch 23 & 24

MAR28

NCAA Sweet SixteenMarch 28 & 29

MAR30

Elite EightMarch 30 & 31

APR6

Final FourAtlanta, April 6

APR8

National ChampionshipAtlanta, April 8

Be sure to catch every game of March Madness 2013. The San Pedro Square Market will be ready...will you?

Beer week 2013, February 7-14th, is almost upon us. That oh so great time when beer lovers unite in search of that perfect beer...or 5 or 6 of them.

The San Pedro Square Market has an amazing beer week set for 2103. We will kick things off on February 12th with a Fat Tuesday Party in partnership with Abita Brewery. Purple Haze, an American style Wheat Beer, will lead the way for Abita. The San Pedro Square Market Bar will also be featuring Hurricane specials and of course we will have beads for all.

Also, shhhhhh...... there has been been a Pliney The Elder sighting at the San Pedro Square Market Bar. Stay Tuned.

Another special day at the San Pedro Square Market will be Valentine's Day. The San Pedro Square Market offers you something unique this Valentines Day. Instead of the same old date night, why not come out and enjoy Downtown San Jose's favorite project with the one you love? Enjoy a wonderful meal from Little Chef, Sama Zama, The Little Cheese Shoppe; or finish your night with a desert crepe or ice cream from Treatbot. The San Pedro Square Market Bar will be running Wine & Champagne specials all night, as a perfect complement for whatever meal you choose.

Finally, round out the events in February will be a Wine and cheese event. The Little Cheese Shoppe and The San Pedro Square Market are teaming up with J. Lorh for a wonderful night of cheese and wine. Be sure to sign up in advance as this event is sure to fill up fast.

Be sure to Join Our Mailing List to stay up to date on all that goes on at the San Pedro Square Market.

With Super Bowl Sunday less than a week away, we though it would be appropriate to start Monday off with the 10 most popular Super Bowl commercials of all time (as chosen by the San Pedro Square Market):

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Let us know what you think of our list by leaving a comment below. Stay tuned for some great menu ideas and Super Bowl tips from the San Pedro Square Market. Still not sure what to do for the Big Game? Come down to the Market and enjoy great specials all day long.

Hawaiian Airlines and Kristi Yamaguchi are giving people in San Jose the opportunity to test out their skating skills. Downtown Ice opened on November 18th , my family and I enjoyed skating under the circle of palms in downtown San Jose. Downtown Ice is located in between the San Jose Museum of Art and Fairmont Hotel in downtown San Jose. The ice rink will be open from November 18th through January 29th, 2012. Kristi Yamaguchi, who is best known for her 1992 Olympic Gold Medal will be at the Opening Ceremony 5 p.m. Monday, November 21. Yamaguchi, who has always supported the downtown ice, will not be performing but her former skating club the Sliver Stars Synchronized Skating Group will be performing a dance.

Downtown Ice is a time for friends and family to gather and celebrate holiday activities. Along with ice skating there are a ton of fun filled holiday events starting with Christmas in the Park, riding the wonderland amusements, and watching live performances such as, “The Nutcracker” at the San Jose performing arts and “A Christmas Carol” at San Jose Repertory Theater. The ice rink is open daily from 5-9pm on weeknights and 11 am to midnight on weekends except Sundays.

Admission prices:

Children 10- younger $13,

11-older $15.

The admission price includes ice skating time and also the rental skates.

Edamame is perhaps my most favorite snack to cook. It’s so good for you and you can dress it up a million different ways. Here is a quick recipe to spice up your Edamame. This is a great snack for kids, and a great trick for entertaining you guests.

I generally use the Edamame from Trader Joes, because it’s fast and easy. But you can use any brand. In a wok or a non-stick fry pan heat up 3 tablespoons of sesame oil on medium to high heat. Add the Edamame and toss several times to coat evenly. I let the Edamame sear for a solid 3-5 minutes, tossing frequently, so that a nice crust begins to form. Add garlic, ponzu, black & white sesame seeds, shiso powder, and seaweed (optimal). Once the Edamame has been coated evenly pour into a serving dish and sprinkle with kosher or sea salt. *Tip- some of the ingredients will stick to the sided of your wok simply, use a plastic spatchula to remove excess num-nums and add them to your serving dish. Also, you can spice up this great dish by adding sriracha, wasabi, spicy yellow mustard, or your favorite peppers or hot sauces just make sure you let people know!

The San Pedro Square Market has started November out with a bang. Last night the Arclight Theater of San Jose, collaborating with New York’s Tectonic Theatre Company, debuted a play titled "Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays". It was a smashing success. Half of the proceeds were donated to the Billy DeFrank LGBTQ Community Center to support their education and outreach efforts. There was also a great crowd at the San Pedro Square Market Bar cheering on the San Jose Sharks as they defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-2 .

Calling all ladies! Wednesday November 9th, Kinzie Balfour, the author of Strike Two, a steamy little romance novel, will be at the San Pedro Square Market for a book signing. Come down, bring your girlfriends, and “chick chat” over our custom cocktail called Romance Beckons, specially created for this event. The party starts at 7pm. Come dressed in whatever you like, but Kinzie will be going all out, so feel free to rock your highest heels and slinkiest dress. Why not? It’s ladies night!

Interested in learning the art of Tamale making? Well, San Pedro Square Market is the place to be. We will be hosting a hands-on Tamale Making Workshop Saturday November 12th and Saturday the 19th, both from 12pm-4pm, in the Perrazo Building, located at 170 W. Saint John Street. The cover is $65, which includes chefs demo, hands-on workshop, recipe book and a delicious tamale dinner. This is perfect skill to have for the upcoming holiday season to share with family and friends. For more information call Casa Q: (408) 280-1065

Come dig into San Jose’s history at the heart of the San Pedro Square Market’s Peralta Adobe. Archeology students from Stanford University will be leading a mock archaeological dig for kids. If your are an aspiring archaeologist, eager to learn about San Jose’s history or just want to get your hands dirty, come Sunday, November 13th from 12pm-4pm, admission is free!

We are thrilled to have Peter Yarrow from Peter, Paul and Mary, here, at the San Pedro Square Market for a mini concert and book signing. Grab a bite to eat, enjoy live music, and come meet this legendary artist on Tuesday, November 15th from 7pm-9pm. Free validated parking across the street will be available.

Celebrate “San Jose’s Birthday” on November 20th from 12pm-4pm hosted by History San Jose, where they will have music and cake to celebrate the founding of the Pueblo.

There will be many more exciting upcoming events, join our mailing list and let us keep you updated on everything happening at the San Pedro Square Market.

In his famous challenge to John Sculley, Steve Jobs asked if he wanted to spend his life selling sugared water to kids, or did he want to change the world?

Jobs was quite a salesman. About a year after that famous quote, I saw much of that legendary asset when I met him to discuss the new Apple headquarters that he wanted to build in the southern reaches of San Jose. He had I.M. Pei to design it, bundles of cash, more cachet, and a plan that was "awesome." And he made me an offer that was tough to refuse: He'd make San Jose a great city. Jobs even talked about living in a loft downtown. Wow. You could really see that glimmer of greatness.

But within a year, the man he seduced to lead Apple would send Jobs on his way, and with him went much of the spark that so enlivened that company.

Gone but not forgotten. Like many other parents, I made sure a Mac was on my daughters' desks, part of their kit like a pencil.

There was a sign in my grammar school library at old St. Joseph's -- now under the Adobe Towers -- that said, "you can travel the world over in your library." Now it was possible in your own room. It was a gift to education and a boon to Luddites like me as well.

The word "great" is nowadays used in the most casual way. I prefer it for those who have transcending ideas or real courage. Jobs surely did.

Some of the reason for his unique cult status was his straight talk.

It was as legendary as his ability to turn the inventions of others into cash. As the "Woz" has noted, "he sells all the stuff I made."

In my conversation with Jobs about the "insanely great" headquarters that he would build, he disparaged a prominent Silicon Valley developer and philanthropist as a "sleaze ball" and ranted about how Jacob Rothschild had changed a deal at the last minute to buy a New York apartment.

He only savaged the important and dropped only the best names. He was brash and a bit annoying. And remember, he was still in his mid-20s.

Others have written how he changed the world, and I will let others more qualified expand on it.

But I do know this, because I have seen it clearly in my children and grandchildren, and in classrooms from Costa Rica to Ireland. Steve Jobs helped us all to dream a little more and to make those dreams easier to see. He may have been the supreme visionary in this special valley.

Perhaps most remarkable was that as a young man, he wrote his own epitaph when he said to another: "Do you want to change the world?"

Left Coast Live comes back to Downtown San Jose this Saturday October 8th. 25+ bands will be performing on 3 outdoor stages and partner venues. The event will be in downtown San Jose between South 1st and South Market Streets on Post Street and Lightson Street. The event will feature a beer garden and urban food zone.

In its 3rd year, Left Coast Live is an annual, all-ages music festival which showcases national and local acts in the downtown San Jose area, establishing Silicon Valley as a regional destination for live music. Previous years included performances from OK Go, Neon Trees, Yo La Tengo, Booker T., Lyrics Born and Miggs as well as many local favorites.

What started as an idea quickly became a movement for revival of live music downtown. Members of the community group South Bay Live helped refine ideas, do research and move this idea into reality. This group included: Richard Adoradio of Thriving Artists, Gustavius Aiton of Resonant Frequency Records, Tommy Aguilar of UnGrammar, Matt Beasley of Lumina Music Group, Michael Brilliot of Jazz Mechanics, Lisa Dewey of Kitchen Whore Records and Barbara Wahli of Barb Rocks Presents.

Co-manager Shiela Dowd is active in the music scene and founder of Clever Girls Collective, Sheila is an asset to Downtown San Jose and active in many communities. We wish her and Left Coast Live the best as they take this festival to new heights.

I have to write about The Stan Erhart Band. These guys played the Peralta Adobe Plaza last night for the Shark Game. They were absolutely amazing. Their vocals and style took me back to the times when music was truly great. Eric Clapton, Greatful Dead, TP & the HB's (Tom Petty and the Heart Breakers), and my personal favorite from the set list, Merle Haggard's "okie from muskogee". I cannot say enough about these guys.

Stan's roots go back to the family farm in Kansas; where hard work and play were accompanied by John Deere tractors, V-8 cars, & country guitars. His brother's baritone horn was the first instrument, followed by guitar, vocals, sax, flute, and an interest in keyboards. He spent his college years playing in bands in Michigan, later moving to Chicago to play the clubs, and finally to San Francisco to form one of the busiest bands in the Bay Area. They have a grand ole time dishin' up..."A great big plate of roots rockin' blues with a little of everything on the side!"

San Francisco singer/songwriter Stan Erhart exists in that blues-rock space occupied by John Hiatt, Warren Zevon, and Dave Alvin. With his weary, gravelly voice, Erhart exists well outside of the pop mainstream, but should find fans among those who seek a rootsy, American style..." Doug Cornell, HitSession

I cannot wait to get these back at the Market. They are amazing

Stay tuned for next weeks San Jose Shark's Blog by Aaron Sholl, we will also be rolling out our San Pedro Square Market tailgating series, with tips, games, recipes, and essential checklists for all styles of tailgaters. Yes, tailgating at the Market!

Vino Vino wine bar is officially open for business in the San Pedro Square Market. Owners Victor Klee and Gary Arakaki were one of the first tenants involved in the project. The wine bar is located on the North end of San Pedro Street and boasts an amazing 13 bottle wines tap system. Yes that's correct they have wine on tap. The tap system is amazing to look at but it is also a green product. The tap system cuts back on corks, bottles, labels, foil, boxes, the list goes on and on. Another great feature of the system is the ability to carry more unique wines that cannot be found at many other wines bars because the system increases the life of the wine without sacrificing on the quality. So for all you wine buffs out there that means more wine flights more often.

There menu is great too. I went there for lunch today and ordered the smoked salmon crostini plate and a brie, prosciutto, & fig spread sandwich, all i can say is WOW! If that's not your style, I saw other people eating the grilled cheese sandwich that has crimini mushrooms and truffles, and a seared ahi tuna salad. As i was eating my lunch I asked Gary and Victor what made them decide to open the wine bar and they simply said..."We couldn't find anything that catered to us, so we went out and started our own bar". I must say its been a hit so far. People are raving about it. In fact its more than just a wine bar, its an experience. I went to lunch not knowing much about wine, other than I like it. But when I left I knew why they decided on the wine taps vs traditional bottles, where the wines are coming from, and they their food products are local and sustainable which is important to me and I'm sure many others.